2026-05-15
Proverbs 23:7 NKJV
A fascinating experiment was conducted a half century ago. Three men tested their strength on a gripping machine, with an average measure of 101 pounds of pressure. Then the participants were hypnotized, and the experimenter told them, “You cannot grip because you are weak.” Under the power of suggestion, their average grip strength fell to 29 pounds of pressure. Then the experimenter said, “Now you can grip.” Their average grip increased to 145 pounds of pressure. Their strength was increased fivefold when they said, “I can,” versus when they said, “I can’t.”
It helps to think of Scripture as a script. While the reality of your circumstances often feels as if you are off script, you’ve got to take your cues from God’s Word. You’ve got to live as if you are who God says you are, you have what God says you have, and you can do what God says you can do. If you believe the enemy’s lies, you’re in deep trouble. But if you believe God’s Word, it’ll get you and keep you out of trouble.
When you’re lonely, don’t forget His promise, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5 NKJV). When you feel like you’ve lost your way, remember His words: “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9 NKJV). When you’re battling illness, you can stand on His promise: “‘For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord” (Jeremiah 30:17 NKJV).
The word for you today is – live as if you believe it!
Soul food: 1 Pet 1-5; Matt 10:21-31; Ps 18:1-29; Prov 12:23-24
2026-05-14
Markus 4:35 NLV
Jesus het vir sy dissipels gesê: ‘…Kom ons vaar oorkant toe.’ Volgende lees ons: ‘Daar het ‘n hewige stormwind opgekom. Groot golwe het teen die boot gebreek…’ (vers 37 NLV). Die dissipels het na Jesus gedraai en gesien dat Hy vas aan die slaap is! Hulle het geskree: ‘…Leermeester, skeel dit U niks dat ons besig is om te vergaan nie?’ (vers 38 NLV). Jesus het wakker geword, die storm beveel om te bedaar en toe vir sy dissipels gesê: ‘…Hoekom is julle so verskrik? Vertrou julle My nog steeds nie?’ (vers 40 NLV).
Wat ‘n verstommende teregwysing! Waarom het Jesus hulle berispe? Eenvoudig: hulle het Hom nie op sy Woord geneem nie. Hy het gesê dat hulle na die oorkant toe gaan vaar. Hy het nie gesê: ‘Ons gaan in die middel van die see verdrink,’ nie. Jesus het reeds die uitkoms aangekondig. Toe die storms egter kom, het die dissipels die gebrul van die winde gehoor en sy Woord vergeet.
Jy sal ook storms ondervind. Winde sal huil, jou boot sal rondgeslinger word en jy sal ‘n keuse hê: Sal jy na Christus of na die krisis luister? Sal jy ag op die beloftes van die Skrif of op die geraas van die storm slaan? God het vir Josua gesê om dag en nag oor die Skrif te mediteer (sien Josua 1:8). Die beeld is een van ‘n persoon wat God se Woord oor en oor opsê, oefen en oorweeg.
Paulus sê: ‘Die boodskap van Christus moet in sy volle rykdom in julle bly. Leer en onderrig mekaar met alle wysheid…’ (Kolossense 3:16 AFR83). Begin met ‘n gebed: ‘O God, spreek asseblief vandag tot my hart terwyl ek u Woord lees.’ Lees dan die Skrif met ‘n oop gemoed, totdat die boodskap jou tref.
Sielskos: Luk 24:50-53; Hand 1:1-11; Ef 4:7-10
Mark 4:35 NIV
Jesus told His disciples: “Let us go over to the other side.” Next, we read: “A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat” (v. 37 NIV). The disciples turned to Jesus and found Him sound asleep! They screamed, “Don’t you care if we drown?” (v. 38 NIV). Jesus woke up, commanded the storm to shut up, and then said to the disciples, “Do you still have no faith?” (v. 40 NIV).
What a stunning rebuke! The sea was raging; the water was churning. Why did Jesus scold them? Simple: they didn’t take Him at His Word. He said they were going to the other side. He didn’t say, “We are going to the middle of the lake to drown.” Jesus had declared the outcome. But when the storms came, the disciples heard the roar of the winds and forgot His Word.
Storms are coming your way too. Winds will howl, your boat will be tossed, and you will have a choice: Will you hear Christ or the crisis? Will you heed the promises of Scripture or the noise of the storm? God told Joshua to “meditate in [Scripture] day and night” (see Jos 1:8). The word meditate means to “mutter” over what you’re reading. The image is one of a person reciting, rehearsing, and reconsidering God’s Word over and over.
Paul says: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another” (Colossians 3:16 NKJV). Begin with a prayer: “God, please speak to my heart today as I read.” Then read with an open heart until the message hits you.
Soul food: Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:1-11; Eph 4:7-10
2026-05-13
Markus 16:15 NLV
In 1993 het ‘n groep genaamd AD2000 United Prayer Track met ‘n innoverende idee vorendag gekom. Om hul doelwit van “‘n kerk vir elke volk en die evangelie vir elke persoon teen 2000 NC” te help verwesenlik, het hulle ‘n program genaamd ‘Praying through the Window’ gestig. Die ‘venster’ het na ‘n gebied op die aardbol van tien grade tot veertig grade noord van die ewenaar, van Noord-Afrika en Suid-Spanje ooswaarts tot Japan en die noordelike Filippyne, verwys. Byna drie miljard mense woon in hierdie gebied, waar die prominentste godsdienste Boeddhisme, Islam en Hindoeïsme is.
Vir die hele maand van Oktober 1993, en weer in 1995, het miljoene Christene vir die mense in ‘die 10/40-venster’ gebid. Die doel was dat nuwe kerke gestig en nuwe sendelinge na hierdie gebiede gestuur word. In 1993 alleen het die aantal kerke in Albanië van 50 tot meer as 300 gegroei en die aantal Christelike gemeenskapsgroepe wat in Indië gevorm is, het van ‘n gemiddeld van drie tot sewentien per dag gestyg.
As jou wêreld slegs uit jou geliefdes, jou werk en jou kerk bestaan, vra God om jou oë vir die buitewêreld oop te maak. Bid dat Hy in daardie nasies sal beweeg. ‘Vra My, en Ek gee vir jou nasies as erfporsie, die einde van die aarde as jou besitting’ (Psalm 2:8 NLV). Jy vra: ‘Kan ons realisties glo dat die hele wêreld na Christus sal draai?’ Lees die volgende: ‘Die hele aarde sal die Here erken en na Hom toe terugkeer. Mense uit elke nasie sal Hom weer dien’ (Psalm 22:28 NLV).
Sielskos: Deut 32:29-34:12; Matt 10:11-20; Ps 49; Spr 12:20-22
Mark 16:15 NKJV
In 1993, a group called AD2000 United Prayer Track came up with an innovative idea. To help realize their goal of “a church for every people and the gospel for every person by AD2000,” they established a program called “Praying through the Window.” The “window” referred to an area on the globe from ten degrees to forty degrees north of the Equator, from North Africa and Southern Spain eastward to Japan and the northern Philippines. Almost three billion people live in this area, where the most prominent religions are Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism.
For the entire month of October 1993, and again in 1995, millions of Christians prayed for the people in “the 10/40 window.” The goal was that new churches be established, and new missionaries sent to these areas. In 1993 alone, the number of churches in Albania grew from 50 to more than 300, and the number of Christian fellowship groups formed in India rose from an average of three to seventeen each day.
If your world consists only of your loved ones, your job, and your church, ask God to open your eyes to the world beyond your world. Begin praying that He will move in those nations. “Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession” (Psalm 2:8 NKJV). You say, “Can we realistically believe that the world will turn to Christ?” Read this: “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You” (Psalm 22:27 NKJV).
Soul food: Deut 32:29-34:12; Matt 10:11-20; Ps 49; Prov 12:20-22
